Remote education program improves carbohydrate counting but not blood sugar control in youth with type 1 diabetes
Last updated May 7, 2026
Key finding
A 6-month study in 46 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes found that a remote multiprofessional educational program improved adherence to carbohydrate counting but did not significantly improve HbA1c or quality of life.
This study tested a remote educational program with a multidisciplinary team for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. After 6 months, the program helped improve carbohydrate counting skills but failed to significantly improve blood sugar control or quality of life.
Quick read
Study at a glance
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EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Study type
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Follow-up
Medium-Term (3–12 mo)
Risk of bias
Some Concerns
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Plain-language summary
What this paper says
A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.
Study focus
A 6-month study in 46 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes found that a remote multiprofessional educational program improved adherence to carbohydrate counting but did not significantly improve HbA1c or quality of life.
Published in
Journal Reference
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Fritz CK, de Leão AAP, Sbalqueiro FVF, et al. Evaluation of the quality of life of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus before and after an intervention with a remote multiprofessional educational program. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2026;102(3):101537. doi:10.1016/j.jped.2026.101537
Main Effects
↑ Carbohydrate counting adherence significantly increased in the intervention group (p<0.001)
→ HbA1c showed no significant change between groups (IG: 8.9%→9.4%, CG: 9.4%→9.6%)
→ Quality of life showed no significant difference between groups
Evidence Suggest
- Remote multiprofessional education improves carbohydrate counting adherence in youth with type 1 diabetes
- Short-term remote education alone may be insufficient to improve glycemic control in children with suboptimal HbA1c
- Girls and parents/caregivers report lower quality of life, suggesting the need for targeted support
Who this applies to
Children and adolescents aged 1-18 years with type 1 diabetes and suboptimal glycemic control (HbA1c above recommended levels). Results are most relevant to similar populations in Brazil and other Latin American settings.
Keep in Mind
This was a small, open-label study with relatively short follow-up. The findings may not apply to youth with well-controlled diabetes, those using insulin pumps, or populations in settings with different healthcare infrastructure. Both groups received CGM, which may have reduced the apparent benefit of the educational program.
Between the Lines
- Small sample size (n=46) limits statistical power for subgroup analyses
- Open-label design introduces potential bias for subjective outcomes (quality of life)
- CGM provided to both groups may have diluted the measurable intervention effect
- Short 6-month follow-up may be insufficient to observe metabolic improvements
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